Loan waiver, free power no lasting solution: Venkaiah Naidu
Pune, June 22 : Vice President Venkaiah Naidu said populist measures such as loan waivers and free power would not provide lasting solution to the distressed farmers in the country and sought timely credit at affordable interest rates besides giving latest know-how to them to improve farm productivity.
Inaugurating a two-day National Consultation on Making Agriculture Sustainable and Profitable in here, he said concerted, coordinated and focused action was required to double the farmers income in the coming years, according to an official statement.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, former Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and renowned agricultural scientist Prof. M.S. Swaminathan were present at the event.
Calling for making agriculture viable, profitable and sustainable to improve the lot of farmers and ensure home-grown food security, he stressed on the need to identify gaps in policy formulation to evolve a multipronged strategy to make agriculture viable, profitable and sustainable was the main purpose of this consultation, the statement said.
"Our policies should be more pro farmer and there should be a pronounced bias towards agriculture," he said, emphasising that the 4 Is - Irrigation, Infrastructure, Investment and Insurance sectors - needed to be strengthened for an integrated development of farm sector.
"It is important to make agriculture sustainable through a judicious use of scarce resources like water, electricity and by avoiding indiscriminate use of fertilizers and pesticides," he said.
Observing that populist programs like loan waivers and free power would not provide lasting solutions, the Vice President said that farmers must be provided timely credit at affordable interest rates.
"Farmers have to be given the latest know-how and trained in the do-how to improve farm productivity," he added.
Naidu said that along with increased production, there was need to have efficient distribution of food grains.
"Only then can we move our country forward to achieve the goal of zero hunger and adequate nutrition for all," he said.
Expressing his concern over the restrictions on export of agriculture produce, Naidu advocated to strike a balance between the interests of farmers and consumers.
Referring to the need to promote diversification of crops, he said that farmers should be encouraged to cultivate high value crops like fruits, vegetables, condiments, pulses, spices and sugarcane.
Naidu also said that it is important to encourage farmers to take up allied activities like poultry, dairy, fisheries and aquacultures to not only enhance farmers income but also to provide a cushion against the adverse impact of failed crops.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for doubling farmer's income by 2022, the Vice President said although many initiatives were taken to boost agricultural growth, there is a need to examine if policy changes are required.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
First-ever life-size Vivekananda statue in US unveiled in Seattle
_vb_02.jpeg)
New York (PTI): The first-ever life-size statue of Swami Vivekananda in the US was unveiled in Seattle, honouring the renowned Indian philosopher and spiritual leader.
The life-size bronze statue, installed at the busy Westlake Square in downtown Seattle, is the first such installation hosted by a city government anywhere in the US, officials said.
Sculpted by Indian artist Naresh Kumar Kumawat, it was jointly unveiled on Saturday by Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson and Consul General of India in Seattle Prakash Gupta.
"From Chicago 1893 to Seattle 2026! Seattle's skyline has a new Indian icon: Swami Vivekananda! City of Seattle becomes the first city government to host the Swami Vivekananda Monument in the heart of downtown Seattle," the Consulate General of India in Seattle said in a social media post.
Addressing the event, Wilson said the monument reflects Seattle's inclusive spirit and strengthens cultural ties between India and the diverse metropolitan tech hub in the US Pacific Northwest.
The statue has been gifted by the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) to the City of Seattle in recognition of its "in recognition of the city’s rich multicultural character and spirit of inclusivity", the Indian mission in Seattle said in a statement.
The unveiling of the statue was held on the occasion of the celebration of ICCR Day and is part of India's broader cultural diplomacy initiatives aimed at strengthening people-to-people ties between India and the US Pacific Northwest, the Consulate said.
Located at the bustling Westlake Square, which sees over 400,000 visitors daily, the monument stands near prominent landmarks including the Amazon headquarters ‘Spheres’, the Seattle Convention Centre and the Seattle Centre Monorail.
The unveiling ceremony was attended by several local leaders, including mayors from cities in the Greater Seattle area, community representatives and members of the Indian-American diaspora.
Swami Vivekananda had delivered his historic address at the World’s Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893, introducing Hindu philosophy to a global audience.
_vb_92.jpeg)
_vb_08.jpeg)
_vb_31.jpeg)